GBIF: The Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Denmark · Research

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international network that provides open access to biodiversity data from around the world. Funded by governments globally, GBIF operates through a collaborative framework involving various countries and organizations. The GBIF Secretariat in Copenhagen coordinates these efforts to ensure that comprehensive data about all forms of life on Earth is available for scientific research and decision-making. GBIF's mission focuses on mobilizing data, skills, and technologies to make biodiversity information accessible. It offers services such as data sharing using common standards, customizable data portals for different communities, and support for cross-disciplinary research. GBIF aggregates hundreds of millions of species occurrence records, which are vital for mapping species distributions and assessing conservation needs. Its initiatives, like the Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) and the Biodiversity Information Fund for Asia (BIFA), aim to enhance the use of biodiversity data in various regions.